Art of cracking hydrocarbons



- J. W. COAST, In.

ART OF CRACKING HYDROCARBONS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. 1917.

Patented May 24, 1921.

- in the bottom of the still.

a still, the liquid JOHN W. COAST, JBL, 0F TULSA, OKLAHQMA, .ASSIGNOR TO THE EROCESS COMPANY, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA, A CURPORATION 0F MARYLAND.

ART OF CRACKING HYDROCARBONS.

arness. Application filed May as,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN W. CoAs'r, Jr., a citizen of the United States, of America, a resident. of Tulsa, in the county of-Tulsa, State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of Cracking Hydrocarbons, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the art of cracking hydrocarbons, one of the objects being to protect cylindrical crackin stills from the injurious eil'ects' of the co :e, or carbon, which usually accumulates Another object is to facilitate the removal of this coke, or carbon, from the still.

In the preferred form of the invention, an oscillatory scraping device is arranged within a cracking still and fitted to the bottom thereof. This scraping device extends approximately from one end of the still to the other, and it is preferably operated intermittently so as to stir the contents of the still, at the same time sweeping the cokeforming substances back and forth on the still bottom. The transmission of heat from the still bottom to the liquid is facilitated by stirring the'contents of the still in this manner, and the coke-forming substances are lprevented from accumulating in piles on the ottest part of the still. A saving in fuel is eilected, and the still bottom will not be overheated by thefire to which it-ls subjected.

In removing the residue from a cracking ortions of the residue are usually pumped from the still, leaving a hard mass of coke, or carbon, adhering to the bottom of the still. It is quite diliicult to remove such coke, or carbon, for it is usually firmly incrusted on the bottom of the still. 1' have discovered that this condition is brought about by a drying process to whichthe coke or carbon is subjected after the liquid has been removed from the still. The still is usually hot enough. to dry the coke or carbon before the Workman enters the still to remove the same. I have also discovered that the coke or carbon will not adhere firmly to the still if it is stirred while undergoing the drying process. In this event the coke or carbon will be broken up Specification of Letters Patent. Pajten'j edflllia y 24 1921 1917. Serial No. ironic.

into loose flakes, which can be very easily removed from the still.

Figure I is a longitudinal section of a cracking still provided with a scraping device adapted for use in following my method.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged'transverse section showing the lower portion of the still and the scraping device mounted therein.

Fig. III is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the scrapin device. I

To illustrate the'invention, I have shown a large cylindrical cracking still 1 arranged over a heating chamber 2, and provided with a vapor pipe 3. Theoscillatory scraping device comprises a frame including three long, rectangular frame members 4:, 5 and 6,

separated from each other by fillers 7 (Fig.

III), and connected together by rivets passmg through these fillers. These long, rectangular frame members extend approximately from one end of the still to the other,

and the middle'frame member 5 is provided with journals 8 and v9. at the axis of the still. The journal 9 is mounted in a bearing at one end of the still, and

the journal 8 extends through a stuffing box 10 at the opposite end. An operating crank 11 is fixed to the journal 10. 12 designates a connecting rod through which movement is transmitted to the crank 11 for the pur pose of oscillating the scraping device.

The fillers 7, arranged between the frame members 4, 5 and 6, are positioned to form staggered guide ways for the scraping.

When the still is in operation, the scrap ing device is oscillated intermittently to circulate the liquid transversely oi the still, thereby facilitating the transmission of heat to the liquid, at the same time breaking up the deposits of coke-forming substance,

shifting the latter transversely of the arcuate still bottom. When the scraping device is not in motion it preferably occupies the position shown by dottedlines in Fig. II, and a large percentage of the coke forming'substance will then lie on the elevated scrapers 13, where it will not inter fere with thetransmission of heat through the still bottom. l V

In removing the residue atthe end of a run the free liquid-is pumped from the still, and thereafter the carbon or cokeforming substances will undergo a drying process, due to the heat in the still. During this drying process the oscillatory scraper is actuated to stir the carbon'or coke-forming substance, sweeping it back and forth transversely of the bottom of the still, thereby preventing it from adhering to the still. The loose carbon or coke remaining in the still can be very easily removed.

neresee The structure herein shown is claimed in an application for patent filed by me May 22, 1917, Serial Number 170,149.

I claim:

" In the art of cracking liquid hydrocarbons, the method of removing liquid and solid residual matter from cylindrical cracking stills which comprises removing the 'free liquid portions of the residue, leaving a wet mass of residual coke or carbon in the still, then drying and at the same time stir- JOHN COAST, JR. 

